Hawks announce tough injury update for former 1st-round pick

The optimism around the Atlanta Hawks’ 2024 Las Vegas Summer League team took a hit with word that one of the key players on the team would no longer participate.

“Kobe Bufkin injured his right shoulder during Tuesday evening’s summer league practice,” the Hawks announced in a post on X on July 11. “An MRI taken at the Emory Sports Medicine Complex revealed findings consistent with a right shoulder subluxation. He will not play in the Las Vegas Summer League and is expected to make a full recovery ahead of training camp.”

Bufkin was the No. 15 overall pick of the 2023 NBA Draft.

His rookie season was also interrupted by injury, with the former Michigan Wolverine appearing in 17 games with the Hawks. He averaged 4.8 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.6 assists as a rookie in 2023-24.

Bufkin logged another 14 games in the G League with the College Park Skyhawks, posting 23.6 points, 5.9 assists, and 5.4 rebounds with 1.3 steals. He had a strong showing in the 2023 summer league, hence the optimism for his second go.

Kobe Bufkin's sophomore season with Hawks off to rough start

Bufkin flashed much of what made him a potential lottery pick in his moments on the court, showing aggressiveness and willingness to get downhill, make plays, and defend. His lone wart aside from durability was his three-point shooting.

Bufkin shot 22.5% from deep and 50% from the free throw line with the Hawks. He shot 35.6% from outside with the Skyhawks, a nearly identical mark to his final season in college (35.5%). 

He also showed better efficiency at the free throw line with CPS (82.9%), again nearly matching his collegiate numbers (83.3%). Summer league was set to be a stage for Bufkin to prove the G League performances will indeed translate.

With Dejounte Murray traded to the New Orleans Pelicans, this is also a hit for the Hawks.

Bufkin was already set to be a part of a crowded guard group that includes Trae Young, versatile reserve Vit Krejci, and trade pickup Dyson Daniels at the point. 

Bogdan Bogdanovic and Garrison Mathews are at shooting guard, making a path to surefire minutes for Bufkin convoluted. Not being able to work out will only exacerbate the issue for Bufkin and the Hawks, and more changes are potentially on the horizon.

The Hawks will still have plenty of excitement around the 2024 summer squad.

No. 1 overall pick Zaccharie Risacher and second-round pick Nikola Djurisic are the headliner and co-star, respectively.

But the summer league Hawks will also feature young bigs in 2023 second-round Mouhamed Gueye and 2023 undrafted free agent Miles Norris. 2022 second-rounder E.J. Liddell – who arrived to the Hawks in the Murray package with Daniels – will also play.

Nonetheless, the loss of Bufkin for the summer stings.